Well yesterday was the opener, I have been putting in for 22 years and this tag has not disappointed and it was only the first day. Weather was raining, foggy and Smokey, I started the day up high at the receding snow line. Saw 4 bucks early in the morning , first one was a spike, the second one was outside the ears, he was walking away from me and barely visible in the fog, he was only 60 yards away but he gave me the slip. Then I had a goofy barely 3pt jump across the road in front of me his rack was barely above the ears. Then an absolute toad for a 2 pt stepped out w the most ridiculously jacked neck I’ve seen on a deer in person, he had a doe w him and a face that looked like attitude. Later further east in the unit saw a nice 3pt thrashing some brush on the side of the road and I’m not going to lie I was tempted but ultimately let him go. Then in the last hour of day light I had a tall deep forked 3 pt walk in front of me at 40 yards w his harem of does. I must’ve flipped my safety off and on half a dozen times. My dad was w me and reminded this was only the first day and I’ve taken a bigger buck in the general season. Fast forward 20 minutes or so and a basket buck 4pt w some broken tines from fighting and a huge 3 pt w shallow forks and short tines stepped out and I thought they were going to fight the way the snot was dripping but they never did. I’ve never passed on a legal mule deer before, today I passed on 10. What a great start to the season. Looking forward to next Saturday when I can get out.
